12 to 14 teams to be represented at the Championship with Iran still the favorite to win its 10th crown since it joined the tournament in 1999

Manila, Philippines, January 13, 2014 – The 2014 Asian Men’s Volleyball
Club Championship will be held in Manila from April 8 to 16.

Following Vietnam’s withdrawal, the Philippines stepped in to host the Championship
signaling the country’s comeback on the regional volleyball scene. In doing so
the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) is moving ahead with its plans to form
national pools for men and women.

The PVF Organising Committee is composed of highly-respected sports
personalities and top corporate sponsors include Philippine Long Distance
Telephone (PLDT). Philip Ella Juico, former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)
Chairman will head the Organising Committee. Juico, who also served as an
agrarian reform secretary is currently chairman of the PVF and the Philippine
Super Liga.

"This tournament is aimed at putting the Philippines back in the
groove of international volleyball activities," said Juico during the
tournament's media launch, where the reorganisation of the men’s and women’s national
teams was also announced.

"A grassroots project is also now in place to complement the PVF's
general programme, including the structures for the standard teams for men and
women and also beach volleyball," Juico added. "We are looking at
more participation in regional and international meets on top of maintaining
our good financial standing before the FIVB and the AVC.”

As this is the first time the Philippines is competing in and hosting
the tournament, PVF President Karl Chan has appointed SportsCore Event
Management and Consultancy, Inc. (Score) to oversee the event.

"This tournament is already a big step being taken by the PVF. We
are awed by the project, but this is an opportunity that we could not let pass,"
Chan said. "We owe it to the AVC, our sponsors and the Organising
Committee that we are being recognised as capable of hosting a big event such
as the Asian Men's Club Championship."

With the Philippine Long Distance Telephone and its subsidiary Fibr, the
country's most powerful broadband company, backing the event, volleyball has
been given a boost in the country.

Only Korea, Kazakhstan, Qatar and China are tipped as strong challengers
to Iran, although teams from Saudi Arabia, Japan, Chinese-Taipei and Indonesia also
have experience playing in the tournament. The Championship is expected to be a
baptism of fire for the Philippine team, which is being reorganised for the
very first time in years.

Ramon Suzara, Chairman of AVC Development and Marketing
Committee and member of the FIVB Development Commission, said the Philippines
will gain from the event as it will help raise the level of awareness and
interest of Filipinos in men’s volleyball, which is currently dominated by
women's leagues.